Alabama Football: Must win matchups for Saturday’s Game vs. Tennessee

Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel Versus Alabama Defensive Coordinator Kevin Steele

Josh Heupel is perhaps the greatest offensive mind in College Football. His offenses since arriving at Tennesse have been prolific averaging 40+ points per game since he took over in 2021. This year’s Tennessee offense has struggled at times as it transitions from Hendon Hooker to Joe Milton still averaging 36 points per game while struggling versus Texas A&M and Florida.

Alabama Football had to replace both its coordinators as they departed for new gigs in the offseason. Kevin Steele was Nick Saban’s choice to lead the 2023 Alabama defense making it Steele’s third stint in Tuscaloosa.  The best trait for Kevin Steele has been his second half adjustments allowing a combined 13 points in the second half versus USF, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. Kevin Steele’s defense is allowing only 14.5 points per game a much-improved mark than the 2022 Alabama football team that allowed 18.2 points per game while shutting out Utah State and Austin Peay while holding Vanderbilt to 6 points.

The Play calling matchup between Steele and Heupel may be the most important matchup of the game. If Steele is able to continue his second-half magic this week Alabama will have an incredible chance to come out on top. However, if the Alabama defense plays how, it did in the second half, last week versus Arkansas allowing Arkansas to score 15 second-half points in a comeback effort that fell short the Crimson Tide may be in trouble.